Delivery and recovery system for embolic protection system

ABSTRACT

A system for enabling the insertion and removal of an embolic protection device, for capturing and retaining embolic debris which can be created during the performance of a therapeutic interventional procedure in a stenosed or occluded region of a blood vessel. The system, in an embodiment thereof, is capable of enabling at least one operator to control the delivery and removal of an embolic protection device to a position in a patient&#39;s vasculature distal to an interventional procedure site, to enable the exchange of the delivery and recovery system. The system, in another embodiment thereof, includes a delivery system and a recovery system which are capable of enabling the delivery and recovery of an embolic protection device so as to maintain a clinically acceptable profile and flexibility through the patient&#39;s vasculature.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a divisional application of co-pending application Ser. No.09/872,692, filed Jun. 1, 2001, whose contents are hereby incorporatedby reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to improvements in embolicprotection systems and methods. In particular, it relates to an improvedsystem and method for enabling at least one operator to effectivelydeliver an embolic protection device to a position in a patient'svasculature distal to an interventional procedure site. The deploymentof the embolic protection device is enabled so as to filter the blood ina blood vessel, to capture embolic material that may be created andreleased into the bloodstream during the performance of theinterventional procedure in a stenosed or occluded region of a bloodvessel. The invention also enables the operator to efficiently removethe embolic protection device from the interventional procedure sitewith the captured embolic material therein.

The present invention further particularly relates to an improved systemand method for maintaining a clinically acceptable profile andflexibility during the delivery and removal of the embolic protectiondevice through the patient's vasculature. The systems and methods of thepresent invention are particularly useful when performing balloonangioplasty, stenting procedures, laser angioplasty or atherectomy incritical vessels, such as the carotid, renal, and saphenous vein graftarteries, where the release of embolic debris into the bloodstream couldpossibly occlude the flow of oxygenated blood to the brain or othervital organs which can cause devastating consequences to the patient.

A variety of non-surgical interventional procedures have been developedover the years for opening stenosed or occluded blood vessels in apatient caused by the build up of plaque or other substances on thewalls of the blood vessel. Such procedures usually involve thepercutaneous introduction of the interventional device into the lumen ofthe artery, usually through a catheter. One widely known and medicallyaccepted procedure is balloon angioplasty in which an inflatable balloonis introduced within the stenosed region of the blood vessel to dilatethe occluded vessel. The balloon catheter is initially inserted into thepatient's arterial system and is advanced and manipulated into the areaof stenosis in the artery. The balloon is inflated to compress theplaque and press the vessel wall radially outward to increase thediameter of the blood vessel.

Another procedure is laser angioplasty which utilizes a laser to ablatethe stenosis by super heating and vaporizing the deposited plaque.Atherectomy is yet another method of treating a stenosed blood vessel inwhich a cutting blade is rotated to shave the deposited plaque from thearterial wall. A vacuum catheter may be used to capture the shavedplaque or thrombus from the blood stream during this procedure.

In another widely practiced procedure, the stenosis can be treated byplacing a device known as a stent into the stenosed region to hold openand sometimes expand the segment of the blood vessel or other arteriallumen. Stents are particularly useful in the treatment or repair ofblood vessels after a stenosis has been compressed by percutaneoustransluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), percutaneous transluminalangioplasty (PTA) or removal by atherectomy or other means. Stents areusually delivered in a compressed condition to the target site, and thenare deployed at the target location into an expanded condition tosupport the vessel and help maintain it in an open position.

In the past, stents typically have fallen into two general categories ofconstruction. The first type of stent is expandable upon application ofa controlled force, often through the inflation of the balloon portionof a dilatation catheter which, upon inflation of the balloon or otherexpansion means, expands the compressed stent to a larger diameter to beleft in place within the artery at the target site. The second type ofstent is a self-expanding stent formed from, for example, shape memorymetals or super-elastic nickel-titanum (NiTi) alloys, which willautomatically expand from a compressed state when the stent is advancedout of the distal end of the delivery catheter into the body lumen. Suchstents manufactured from self-expandable materials allow for phasetransformations of the material to occur, contributing to the expansionand contraction of the stent.

The above non-surgical interventional procedures, when successful, avoidthe necessity of major surgical operations. However, there is one commonproblem associated with all of these non-surgical procedures, namely,the potential release of embolic debris into the bloodstream which canocclude distal vasculature and cause significant health problems to thepatient. For example, during deployment of a stent, it is possible thatthe metal struts of the stent can cut into the stenosis and shear offpieces of plaque which become embolic debris that can travel downstreamand lodge somewhere in the patient's vascular system. Pieces of plaquematerial can sometimes dislodge from the stenosis during a balloonangioplasty procedure and become released into the bloodstream.Additionally, while complete vaporization of plaque is the intended goalduring a laser angioplasty procedure, particles are not always fullyvaporized and may enter the bloodstream.

When any of the above-described procedures are performed for example inthe carotid arteries, the release of emboli into the circulatory systemcan be extremely dangerous to the patient. Debris that is carried by thebloodstream to distal vessels of the brain may cause these cerebralvessels to occlude, resulting in a stroke, and in some cases, death.Therefore, although carotid percutaneous transluminal angioplasty hasbeen performed in the past, the number of procedures performed has beenlimited due to the justifiable fear of causing an embolic stroke shouldembolic debris enter the bloodstream and block vital downstream bloodpassages.

Medical devices have been developed to attempt to deal with the problemcreated when debris or fragments enter the circulatory system followingtreatment utilizing any one of the above-identified procedures. Oneapproach which has been attempted is the cutting of any debris intominute sizes which pose little chance of becoming occluded in majorvessels within the patient's vasculature. However, it is often difficultto control the size of the fragments which are formed, and the potentialrisk of vessel occlusion still exists, making such procedures in thecarotid arteries a high-risk proposition.

Other techniques which have been developed to address the problem ofremoving embolic debris include the use of catheters with a vacuumsource which provides temporary suction to remove embolic debris fromthe bloodstream. However, as mentioned above, there have beencomplications with such systems since the vacuum catheter may not alwaysremove all of the embolic material from the bloodstream, and a powerfulsuction could cause problems to the patient's vasculature.

Further techniques which have had some limited success include theplacement of an embolic protection device such as a filter or trapdownstream from the treatment site to capture embolic debris before itreaches the smaller blood vessels downstream. Such embolic protectiondevices are adapted to enable the filtering of embolic debris which maybe released into the bloodstream during the treatment to the vessel, andyet allow a sufficient amount of oxygenated blood to flow past thedevice to supply vital organs downstream from the treatment site.

However, there have been problems associated with embolic protectiondevices, particularly during the insertion, expansion, deployment, andremoval of the embolic protection device within the blood vessel. Themanipulation of the guide wire and the catheter employed in theinsertion and removal of the embolic protection device usually requirestwo operators, one for manipulating the guide wire, and one formanipulating the catheter. This can sometimes prove to be a somewhatinefficient and inconvenient method for inserting and removing filteringsystems. Also, a long guide wire was required previously for thedelivery and removal of the embolic protection device, since the guidewire had to be held until the entire catheter was removed from the body,so that the guide wire could be grabbed as it exited the body and thecatheter could be removed from the guide wire. Further, very substantialpullback force on the guide wire and catheter was required, due to theoperation of frictional forces and the interaction thereof. Also, theinsertion and removal of embolic protection devices through a patient'svasculature, if not properly implemented, subjected the patient'svasculature to potential trauma and would interfere with the treatmentof the stenosis while increasing the likelihood of damage thereto.

Therefore, the present invention provides improved systems and methodsfor treating stenosis in blood vessels which enable at least oneoperator to manipulate the guide wire and the catheter, so as toefficiently and effectively deliver an embolic protection device to aposition distal to an interventional procedure site for deploymentthereof. The operator also can remove the embolic protection device withcaptured embolic material therein from the interventional proceduresite. The improved systems and methods of the present invention furtherenable the treatment of a stenosis in blood vessels while maintaining aclinically acceptable profile and flexibility during the delivery andremoval of the embolic protection device through the patient'svasculature. Moreover, the systems and methods are adapted to berelatively easy for a physician to use, while enabling the effectivedelivery and recovery of a filtering system capable of removing embolicdebris released into the bloodstream. The inventions disclosed hereinsatisfy these and other needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in general, provides a system and method for theinsertion and removal of a filtering system for capturing and retainingembolic debris from a blood vessel. The embolic debris may be createdduring the performance of a therapeutic interventional procedure, suchas a balloon angioplasty or stenting procedure. The filtering system isadapted to prevent the embolic debris from lodging and blocking bloodvessels downstream from the interventional site. The present inventionis particularly useful for enabling an interventional procedure to beperformed in vital arteries, such as the carotid arteries, in whichcritical downstream blood vessels can become blocked with embolicdebris, including the main blood vessels leading to the brain or othervital organs. As a result, the present invention provides the physicianwith a higher degree of confidence in the efficient delivery andrecovery of a filtering system for the collection and removal of embolicdebris from the blood vessel when performing high-risk interventionalprocedures.

The present invention enables a filtering system to be deployed in theblood vessel at a location distal to the area of treatment in theinterventional procedure site. It also enables the blood to passtherethrough to enable blood to flow past the filter. It further enablesthe blood to be filtered to capture and retain any embolic debris whichmay be created during the interventional procedure.

More particularly, for example, in an embodiment of the presentinvention, a system is adapted to enable at least one operator tocontrol the delivery of an embolic protection device to a position in apatient's vasculature distal to an interventional procedure site, fordeployment of the embolic protection device. The present invention alsoenables the operator to control the removal of the delivery system fromthe patient's vasculature, to enable the exchange of the delivery andrecovery system. It further enables the operator to control the positionof a deployed embolic protection device within the patient's vasculatureduring an exchange of interventional devices.

The delivery system includes a guide wire, having a distal end, andadapted to be positioned within the blood vessel and to extend to aposition distal to the interventional procedure site. The guide wire isfurther adapted to include an embolic protection device mounted on thedistal end thereof. The system also includes a catheter, having a distalend, wherein the catheter has a lumen therein extending in the catheterto the distal end thereof. The guide wire and the embolic protectiondevice are adapted to extend in and through the lumen in the catheter.The catheter and the guide wire are adapted to enable the embolicprotection device to be delivered and deployed distal to theinterventional procedure site. The catheter includes amanipulation-enabling element for enabling the operator to manipulatethe guide wire and the catheter independently so as to enable removalthereof from the patient's vasculature.

The system in such embodiment further includes a system for enabling theat least one operator to control the recovery of the embolic protectiondevice, from the delivered and deployed position thereof, for theexchange of the recovery system. The recovery system includes thecatheter, including the manipulation-enabling element, for enabling theoperator to independently manipulate the guide wire and the catheter, soas to enable removal of the catheter and the embolic protection devicerecovered thereby from the patient's vasculature.

In another embodiment of the present invention, for example, a deliverysystem is adapted to enable the delivery of an embolic protection deviceto a position in a patient's vasculature distal to an interventionalprocedure site, through the patient's vasculature, for deployment of theembolic protection device. The delivery system is adapted to maintain aclinically acceptable profile and flexibility during the delivery andremoval thereof through the patient's vasculature.

The delivery system includes a guide wire, including a distal end,adapted to be positioned within the blood vessel and to extend to aposition distal to the interventional procedure site, and to include anembolic protection device mounted on the distal end thereof. Thedelivery system further includes a delivery sheath, including a distalend, and a lumen therein extending in the delivery sheath to the distalend thereof, and wherein the guide wire and the embolic protectiondevice are adapted to extend in and through the lumen. The deliverysheath and the guide wire are adapted to enable the embolic protectiondevice to be delivered and deployed distal to the interventionalprocedure site. The delivery sheath comprises dimensions and materialsadapted to provide a low profile, flexibility for enabling trackingthereof through the patient's vasculature, and rigidity for enablingpushing thereof through the patient's vasculature, so as to maintain aclinically acceptable profile and flexibility during the delivery andremoval thereof through the patient's vasculature.

The system in such other embodiment also includes a recovery system,adapted to enable the recovery of the embolic protection device from theposition in the patient's vasculature distal to the interventionalprocedure site, for removal of the embolic protection device. Therecovery system is adapted to maintain a clinically acceptable profileand flexibility during the delivery and removal of the recovery systemthrough the patient's vasculature.

The recovery system includes an inner catheter, including a distal end.The inner catheter has a lumen therein extending in the inner catheterto the distal end thereof, and wherein the inner catheter is adapted toextend over the guide wire, and the distal end of the inner catheter isadapted to be positionable adjacent the embolic protection device. Theinner catheter comprises dimensions and materials adapted to enable asmooth transition for movement thereof along the guide wire, to inhibitkinking of the guide wire during the delivery and removal of the innercatheter, and to maintain a clinically acceptable profile andflexibility during the delivery and removal thereof through thepatient's vasculature.

The recovery system further includes an outer catheter, including adistal end, wherein the outer catheter has a lumen therein extending inthe outer catheter to the distal end thereof. The outer catheter isadapted to extend over the inner catheter. The outer catheter comprisesdimensions and materials adapted to enable a smooth transition formovement thereof along the inner catheter, to enable the capturing ofthe embolic protection device, and to inhibit trauma to the patient'svasculature, so as to maintain a clinically acceptable profile andflexibility during the delivery and removal thereof through thepatient's vasculature.

The above objects and advantages of the present invention, as well asothers, are described in greater detail in the following description,when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of illustrativeembodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational partly broken view of a first form of adelivery version of a first embodiment of the present invention,including a guide wire and a delivery catheter.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the first form of a delivery version of thefirst embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a similar view of the first form of the delivery version ofthe first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, without a handle at the proximalend of the delivery catheter.

FIG. 4 is an elevational fragmentary partly-sectional view of the firstdelivery version of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, disposedwithin the internal carotid artery of a patent, including the distal endof the guide wire and the delivery catheter.

FIG. 5 is a similar view of the first form of the delivery version ofthe first embodiment seen in FIG. 1, with a different-shaped distal tipof the delivery catheter.

FIG. 6 is a similar view of the distal end of the first form of thedelivery version of the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4,including a cross-section of the tip of the delivery catheter, a guidewire, and an embolic protection device.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational partly-broken view of a second deliveryversion of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a similar view of the second delivery version of the firstembodiment shown in FIG. 8, including a guide wire, and an embolicprotection device at the distal end of the delivery catheter.

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a first form of a recovery versionof a first embodiment of the present invention, including an innercatheter

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the first form of the recoveryversion of the first embodiment of the present invention, including anouter catheter.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a side elevational partly-sectional assembly view of thefirst form of the recovery version of the first embodiment shown inFIGS. 10-13, depicting the outer catheter extending about the innercatheter.

FIG. 15 is a side elevational partly-sectional partly-broken view of thefirst form of the recovery version of the first embodiment shown in FIG.14, disposed within the internal carotid artery of a patient, includingthe guide wire, the inner catheter, the outer catheter, and an embolicprotection device.

FIG. 16 is a side elevational partly-broken view of a second form of therecovery version of the first embodiment of the present invention,including a guide wire, an inner catheter, an outer catheter, and anembolic protection device, disposed within the internal carotid arteryof a patient.

FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of a third form of a recovery versionof the first embodiment of the invention, including a guide wire, and anembolic protection device proximate the distal end of the recoverycatheter.

FIG. 18 is a similar view of the third form of the recovery version ofthe first embodiment seen in FIG. 16, with the embolic protection devicecaptured in the expanded tip of the recovery catheter.

FIG. 19 is a side elevational view of a delivery version of a secondembodiment of the present invention, including a delivery sheath.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 20-20 of FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a side elevational view of a recovery version of the secondembodiment of the present invention, including an inner catheter.

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 22-22 of FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a side elevational view of a recovery version of the secondembodiment of the present invention, including an outer catheter.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 24-24 of FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 is a side elevational partly-sectional assembly view of therecovery version of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 21-24,depicting the outer catheter extending about the inner catheter.

FIG. 26 is a side elevational partly-sectional partly-broken view of therecovery version of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 25, disposedwithin the internal carotid artery of a patient, including the guidewire, the inner catheter, the outer catheter, and an embolic protectiondevice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an improved system and method forenabling at least one operator to control the delivery of an embolicprotection device to a position in a patient's vasculature distal to aninterventional procedure site for deployment of the embolic protectiondevice. It is also adapted to enable the operator to control the removalof the delivery system from the patient's vasculature, in an efficientand effective manner, for the exchange of the delivery and recoverysystem. It further enables control of the position of a deployed embolicprotection device within the patient's vasculature by the operatorduring an exchange of interventional devices. The system and method arealso adapted to enable the at least one operator to control the recoveryof the embolic protection device, from the delivered and deployedposition thereof, for the exchange of the recovery system.

The present invention is further directed to an improved system andmethod for enabling the delivery of an embolic protection device to theposition in a patient's vasculature distal to the interventionalprocedure device for the deployment of the embolic protection device, soas to maintain a clinically acceptable profile and flexibility duringthe delivery and removal thereof through the patient's vasculature. Itis further adapted to enable the recovery of the embolic protectiondevice from the position in the patient's vasculature distal to theinterventional procedure site, for removal of the embolic protectiondevice, while maintaining the clinically acceptable profile andflexibility during the delivery and removal of the recovery systemthrough the patient's vasculature.

The embodiments of the improved system and method are illustrated anddescribed herein by way of example only and not by way of limitation.While the present invention is described as applied to the carotidarteries of the patient, those skilled in the art will appreciate thatit can also be used in other body lumens as well, such as the coronaryarteries, renal arteries, saphenous veins and other peripheral arteries.Additionally, the present invention can be utilized when performing anyone of a number of interventional procedures, such as stenting, balloonangioplasty, laser angioplasty or atherectomy.

With respect to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denotelike or corresponding parts throughout the drawing figures, andparticularly to FIGS. 1-26, in the embodiments of the system and methodin accordance with the invention, for example, a system 10 is providedfor enabling an interventional procedure to be performed in a bloodvessel 12 at an area of treatment 14. The system 10 is adapted to beatraumatic. It includes a guide wire 16 adapted to enable the system 10to be positioned distal to the area of treatment 14. The system 10 isplaced within the carotid artery 18 or other blood vessel of thepatient, and is guided into position by the guide wire 16. The guidewire 16 includes a coiled tip 20 at a distal end 22 thereof. The carotidartery 18 has the area of treatment 14 therein, which comprises theinterventional procedure site, wherein atherosclerotic plaque 24 hasbuilt up against the inside wall 26 which decreases the diameter of thecarotid artery 18. As a result, blood flow is diminished through thisarea.

The therapeutic interventional procedure comprises implanting anexpandable interventional instrument at the interventional proceduresite 14, to press the build-up of plaque 24 of the stenosis against theinside wall 26, to increase the diameter of the occluded area 14 of theartery 18, and to help restore sufficient flow of blood to thedownstream vessels leading to the brain. The expandable interventionalinstrument not only helps increase the diameter of the occluded area,but helps prevent restenosis in the area of treatment 14. The expandableinterventional instrument is adapted to be expanded and deployed at theinterventional procedure site 14.

The system 10 of the present invention is adapted to enable the deliveryof an embolic protection device 28 to a location distal to the area oftreatment 14, and to enable the removal of the embolic protection device28 from the delivered position thereof. The embolic protection device 28is adapted to filter the blood in the blood vessel 12, so as to passblood therethrough and capture embolic material which may be released inthe blood vessel 12 during the interventional procedure. The embolicprotection device 28 is adapted to be secured to the distal end 22 ofthe guide wire 16, such that manipulation of the guide wire 16 enablesthe embolic protection device 28 to be placed within the carotid artery18 or other blood vessel of the patient and guided into position distalto the area of treatment 14.

Referring to FIGS. 1-18, in a first embodiment of a system pursuant tothe present invention, for example, the system 10 is adapted to enableat least one operator to control of the delivery of the embolicprotection device 28 to the position in a patient's blood vessel 12distal to the area of treatment 14, for deployment of the embolicprotection device 28. The system 10 is further adapted to enable the atleast one operator to control the removal of the delivery system 10, toenable the exchange of the delivery system, and to enable the control ofthe position of a deployed embolic protection device 28 within thepatient's vasculature 12 during an exchange of interventional devices.The system 10 is further adapted to enable the at least one operator tocontrol the removal of the embolic protection device 28 through thepatient's vasculature 12, from the delivered and deployed positionthereof, for the exchange of the recovery system.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-9, in a delivery version of the firstembodiment of the invention, for example, the system 10 includes theguide wire 16, adapted to be positioned within the blood vessel 12, andto extend to a position distal to the area of treatment 14, and adaptedto include the embolic protection device 28 mounted on the distal end 22thereof. The system 10 also includes a catheter 30, which includes adistal end 32. The catheter 30 has a lumen 34 extending therein to thedistal end 32 thereof. The guide wire 16 and the embolic protectiondevice 28 are adapted to extend in and through the lumen 34. Thecatheter 30 and the guide wire 16 are adapted to enable the embolicprotection device 28 to be delivered and deployed distal to theinterventional procedure site 14.

The catheter 30 also includes a manipulation-enabling element 36 forenabling the operator to manipulate the guide wire 16 and the catheter30 independently, so as to enable removal of the guide wire 16 and thecatheter 30 through the patient's blood vessel 12. The catheter 30includes a distal end portion 38, extending from the distal end 32 to alocation spaced from the distal end 32, a proximal end 40, and adistal-proximal portion 42, extending from the distal end portion 38 tothe proximal end 40. The distal end portion 38 of the catheter 30 isrelatively short, for example about twenty centimeters long.

In a first form of the delivery version of the first embodiment of theinvention, as depicted in FIGS. 1-7, the distal-proximal portion 42 ofthe catheter 30 includes a port 44 therein, proximate the distal endportion 42 of the catheter 30, for enabling the guide wire 16 to exittherefrom and extend therethrough and outside and along the relativelylonger length of the distal-proximal portion 42 of the catheter 30.

The manipulation-enabling element 36 extends along the distal-proximalportion 42 of the catheter 30. The manipulation-enabling element 40 isadapted to enable the guide wire 16 to be peeled away from and extendoutside the catheter 30 and along the distal-proximal portion 42thereof. The manipulation-enabling element 36 comprises a slit,extending along the distal-proximal portion 42 of the catheter 30. Theslit 36 is adapted to enable the catheter 30 and the guide wire 16 to bemanipulated by the operator, so as to enable the guide wire 16 to exitfrom and extend therethrough and outside and along the distal-proximalportion 42 of the catheter 30. After the operator manipulates the guidewire 16 such that the major portion thereof exits the catheter 30through the port 44, only a minor portion of the guide wire 16 extendsin the short length of the distal end portion 38 of the catheter 30,enabling the operator to efficiently manipulate the major portion of theguide wire independent of the catheter 30. Further, with the majorportion of the guide wire 16 adapted to exit the catheter 16 forindependent manipulation thereof by the operator, less overall length ofguide wire 16 is required to enable exchanges thereby.

The catheter 30 further includes a mandrel 48 extending therein, as seenin FIG. 4, adapted to support the catheter 30, to enable the catheter 30to maintain a clinically acceptable profile and flexibility duringdelivery and removal thereof through the patient's vasculature 12. Themandrel 48 extends in a second lumen 50 in the catheter 30. The catheter30 also includes a tip cover 52 at the distal end 34 thereof. Thesupport mandrel 48 may include a flattened distal end 54 thereof,adapted to enable the operator to shape the distal end 52. The shapeabledistal end 54 of the support mandrel 48 may be connected to a superelastic distal segment, which is connected to a stainless steel proximalsegment. The catheter 30 also includes a handle 56 at the proximal end40 thereof.

The catheter 30 also includes a tip 58, at the distal end 32 thereof,adapted to be shapeable by the operator, to enable the operator todirect the shapeable tip 58 for movement thereof in the patient'svasculature. The shapeable tip 58 enables the operator to track thesystem 10 over the guide wire 16 and through tortuous anatomy, withouthaving to rely on the guide wire 16 therefor. The tip 58 is alsoradiopaque, for enabling the operator to locate the tip 58.

In a second form of the delivery version of the first embodiment of thesystem 10 pursuant to the present invention, for delivery of an embolicprotection device 28, as shown in FIGS. 8-9, the manipulation-enablingelement 36 comprises a projection 46, at a location spaced from theproximal end 40 and the distal end 32 of the catheter 30, adapted tocommunicate with the lumen 34, and to enable a minor portion of theguide wire 16 to extend into the lumen 34 therethrough, and a majorportion of the guide wire 16 to extend outside the catheter 30therefrom. The projection 46 is adapted to enable the catheter 30 andthe guide wire 16 to be manipulated independently by the operator. Thedistal end 32 of the catheter 30 is enlarged for contact with theembolic protection device 28.

As shown in FIGS. 10-18, in a recovery version of the first embodimentpursuant to the present invention, for example, the system 10 includesthe guide wire 16, and the catheter 30.

In a first form of the recovery system of the first embodiment inaccordance with the invention, as seen in FIGS. 10-15, which correspondsto the first form of the delivery system of the first embodiment asshown in FIGS. 1-7, the catheter 30 comprises an inner catheter, whichincludes the slit 36, the port 44, the mandrel 48, and the shapeable tip58. The system 10 further includes an outer catheter 60, adapted toextend about the inner catheter 30, and to be extendable in the distaldirection by the operator so as to enclose the embolic protection device28 for enabling recovery thereof. The outer catheter 60 also includesthe slit 36, the port 44, the mandrel 48, and the shapeable tip 58. Asseen in FIG. 16, in a second form of the recovery version of the firstembodiment, which corresponds to the second form of the delivery versionof the first embodiment, as depicted in FIGS. 8-9, the recovery system10 includes the inner catheter 30, which includes the projection 46, theouter catheter 60, and the mandrel 48. The recovery system 10, in athird form of the recovery version of the first embodiment, asillustrated in FIGS. 17-18, includes the catheter 30, which includes themandrel 48, and the shapeable tip 58, which is further adapted to beexpandable to enable the capture of the embolic protection device 28.The catheter 30 further includes a marker band 62, for enabling theoperator to track the location thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 19-26, in a second embodiment of a system pursuant tothe invention, for example, a system 64 is provided for enabling thedelivery and recovery of an embolic protection device 28 relative to aposition in the patient's vasculature 12 distal to an interventionalprocedure site 14, through the patient's vasculature 12, for deploymentof the embolic protection device 28. The system 64 is adapted tomaintain a clinically acceptable profile and flexibility during thedelivery and removal thereof through the patient's vasculature 12.Elements of the system 64 are comprised of polymer materials such as forexample PeBax which is comprised of a thermoplastic polyimide. Also, forthe delivery of the embolic protection device 28, the materials are suchas to provide substantial flexibility for enabling delivery thereofthrough the patient's anatomy and for preventing the guide wire 16 fromkinking, while providing sufficient rigidity for enabling substantialpushing force to be exerted for delivery and deployment thereof.Further, the dimensions of the elements of the system 64 are such as toprovide a low profile for the delivery and recovery thereof and of theembolic protection device 28, while inhibiting vessel trauma.

In a delivery version of the second embodiment of the invention, asdepicted in FIGS. 19-20, the system 64 includes a guide wire 16,including a distal end 22, adapted to be positioned within the bloodvessel 12 and to extend to the a position distal to the interventionalprocedure site 14, and adapted to include the embolic protection device28 mounted on the distal end 22 thereof. The delivery system 64 furtherincludes a delivery sheath 66, including a distal end 68, and has alumen 70 therein extending in the delivery sheath 66 to the distal end68 thereof. The guide wire 16 and the embolic protection device 28 areadapted to extend in a through the lumen 70. The delivery sheath 66 andthe guide wire 16 are adapted to enable the embolic protection device 28to be delivered and deployed distal to the interventional procedure site14. The delivery sheath 66 comprises dimensions and materials adapted toprovide a low profile, flexibility for enabling tracking thereof throughthe patient's vasculature 14, and rigidity for enabling pushing thereonthrough the patient's vasculature 14, to maintain a clinicallyacceptable profile and flexibility during the delivery and removalthereof through the patient's vasculature.

The delivery sheath 66 includes a tip 72 at the distal end 68 thereof,adapted to be necked for providing a profile close to the guide wire 16,to inhibit kinking of the guide wire 16 during the delivery and removalof the delivery sheath 66. The delivery sheath 66 also includes a mainshaft 74, adapted to provide the low profile, flexibility, and rigidity.The main shaft 74 of the delivery sheath 66 is comprised for example ofPeBax, of about 72 Durometer. The tip 72 of the delivery sheath 66 isadapted to be necked, for enabling the embolic protection device 28 tobe loaded therein for delivery thereof, and for enabling the release ofthe embolic protection device 28 for deployment thereof. The tip 72 ofthe delivery sheath 66 is radiopaque, and is comprised of soft materialto prevent vessel trauma. The delivery sheath 66 further includes aproximal end 76, adapted to include a flushing valve including a lockinghub.

The delivery sheath 66, in an embodiment thereof, is about 140-145centimeters in overall length, with a working length of about 25-50centimeters. The inside diameter of the main shaft 74 is about 0.020inches, with an outside diameter of about 0.055 inches. The radiopaquenecked tip 72 is a soft tip, comprised of a compound including PeBax, ofabout 40 Durometer, and bismuth, with a clinically acceptable profileand radiopacity, and is about 10-30 centimeters in length, with amaximum outside diameter of about 0.050 inches.

As seen in FIGS. 21-26, in a recovery version of the second embodimentof a system pursuant to the invention, the system 64 is also providedfor enabling the recovery of the embolic protection device 28 from theposition in the patient's vasculature 12 distal to the interventionalprocedure site 14, for removal of the embolic protection device 28. Therecovery system 64 is adapted to maintain a clinically acceptableprofile and flexibility during the delivery and removal thereof throughthe patient's vasculature 12. The recovery system 64 includes an innercatheter 78, adapted to be positionable adjacent the embolic protectiondevice 28.

The inner catheter 78 includes a distal end 80, a main shaft 82, and alumen 84 extending in the inner catheter 78 through the main shaft 82 tothe distal end 80 thereof. The inner catheter 78 is adapted to extendover the guide wire 16, and the distal end 80 of the inner catheter 78is adapted to be positionable adjacent the embolic protection device 28.The inner catheter 78 comprises dimensions adapted to enable a smoothtransition for movement thereof along the guide wire 16, to inhibitkinking of the guide wire 16 during the delivery and removal of theinner catheter 78, and to maintain a clinically acceptable profile andflexibility during the delivery and removal thereof through thepatient's vasculature 12. The inner catheter 78 further includes a tip86 at the distal end 80 thereof. The main shaft 82 of the inner catheter78 is comprised for example of PeBax, of about 72 Durometer. The tip 86of the inner catheter 78 is radiopaque. The inner catheter 78 furtherincludes a proximal end 88, adapted to include a flushing valveincluding a locking hub.

The inner catheter 78, in an embodiment thereof, is about 145-151centimeters in overall length, with a working length of about 25-50centimeters. The inside diameter of the main shaft 82 is about 0.020inches, with an outer diameter of about 0.055 inches. The radiopaque tip86 is comprised of a compound including PeBax, of about 40 Durometer,and bismuth.

The system 64, in the recovery version of the second embodiment thereof,further includes an outer catheter 90, including a distal end 92, and amain shaft 94. The outer catheter 90 has a lumen 96 therein extendingthrough the main shaft 94 in the outer catheter 90 to the distal end 92thereof. The outer catheter 90 is adapted to extend over the innercatheter 78. The outer catheter 90 comprises dimensions and materialsadapted to enable a smooth transition for movement thereof along theinner catheter 78, to enable the capturing of the embolic protectiondevice 28, and to inhibit trauma to the patient's vasculature, tomaintain a clinically acceptable profile and flexibility during thedelivery and removal thereof through the patient's vasculature 12. Theouter catheter 90 further includes a tip 98 at the distal end 92thereof. The main shaft 94 of the outer catheter 90 is comprised forexample of high density PE. The tip 98 of the outer catheter 90 isradiopaque. The outer catheter 90 further includes a proximal end 100,adapted to include a flushing valve including a locking hub.

The outer catheter 90, in an embodiment thereof, is about 140-145centimeters in overall length, with a working length of 25-50centimeters. The outer catheter 90 is shorter than the inner catheter78. The inside diameter of the main shaft 94 is about 0.065 inches, withan outer diameter of about 0.075 inches. The radiopaque tip 98 is a softtip, comprised of a compound including PeBax, of about 40 Durometer, andbismuth.

The outer catheter 90 and the inner catheter 78 of the system 64interact such that the inner catheter 78 is adapted to enable smoothmovement thereof over the guide wire 16, to enable smooth transitionfrom the guide wire 16 to the outer catheter 90, and to resist thedevelopment of kinks in the system 64.

Referring to FIGS. 1-18, in a method for the use of the first embodimentof the invention, for enabling the at least one operator to deliver andremove the embolic protection device 28 relative to the position thereofdistal to the area of treatment 14 in the patient's blood vessel 12, forexample, the system 10 is positioned in and removed from the patient'svasculature 12 by the operator utilizing any one of a number ofdifferent methods.

In a method for enabling the operator to delivery the embolic protectiondevice 28 to the position in the patient's vasculature 12 distal to theinterventional procedure site 14 for deployment of the embolicprotection device 28, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-11, the delivery system10 is adapted to maintain a clinically acceptable profile andflexibility during the delivery and removal thereof through thepatient's vasculature. The guide wire 16 is inserted into the patient'svasculature 12, with the embolic protection device 28 secured theretoand the catheter 30 detachably secured to the embolic protection device28. The guide wire 16 is then manipulated by the operator to the area oftreatment 14, to cross the stenosis in the blood vessel 12, so as toposition the embolic protection device 28 for capturing embolic materialwhich may be released in the blood vessel 12 during the interventionalprocedure. After the embolic protection device 28 is in place, it isdeployed by the operator at the position distal to the stenosis in theblood vessel 12. The operator then detaches the catheter 30 from theembolic protection device 28, and manipulates the catheter 30, holdingthe guide wire 16, so as to remove the catheter 30 from the patient'svasculature 12.

In the first form of the delivery version of the first embodiment asseen in FIGS. 1-7, the operator manipulates the catheter 30 and theguide wire 16 independently for removal of the catheter 30, upon peelingaway the guide wire 16 from the catheter 30 through the slit 36extending along the distal-proximal portion 42 of the catheter 30. Theoperator, in the second form of the delivery version of the firstembodiment as shown in FIGS. 8-9, manipulates the catheter 30 and theguide wire 16 independently for removal of the catheter 30, upongripping the catheter 30 and the portion of the guide wire 16 extendingfrom the projection 46 in the catheter 30 at the location spaced fromthe proximal end 40 and the distal end 32 of the catheter 30.

The embolic protection device 28 is recovered by the operator, in therecovery versions of the first embodiment of the invention asillustrated in FIGS. 10-18, for example, after the interventionalprocedure is performed, by extending a catheter to the embolicprotection device 28, capturing the embolic protection device 28, andremoving the catheter and the embolic protection device 28 from thepatient's vasculature 14.

In a first form of the recovery system 64 as seen in FIGS. 10-15, theoperator manipulates the guide wire 16, which extends through the port44 and through the slit 36, to enable removal thereof. The operator, inthe second form of the recovery system 64 shown in FIG. 16, manipulatesthe portion of the guide wire 16 extending from the projection 46 in theinner catheter 30, along with the inner catheter 30, with the outercatheter 60 extending about the distal end 32 of the inner catheter 30,and with the embolic protection device 28 enclosed in the outer catheter60. As depicted in FIGS. 17-18, the operator expands the expandable tip58 of the catheter 30 to capture the embolic protection system 28, andrecovers the catheter 30 and the embolic protection system 28.

Referring to FIGS. 19-26 in a method for the use of the secondembodiment of the invention, for enabling the delivery and removal ofthe embolic protection device 28 in relation to the location thereofdistal to the occluded area 14 in the patient's vasculature, forexample, the system 64 may be positioned in and removed from thepatient's vasculature 12 by utilizing any one of a number of differentmethods.

In a method for enabling the delivery of the embolic protection device28 to the position in the patient's vasculature 12 distal to theinterventional procedure site 14 for deployment of the embolicprotection device 28, as seen in FIGS. 19-20, the delivery system 64 isadapted to maintain a clinically acceptable profile and flexibilityduring the delivery and removal thereof through the patient'svasculature. The guide wire 16 is inserted into the patient'svasculature 12, with the embolic protection device 28 positionedrelative to the tip 72 of the delivery sheath 66. The delivery sheath 66and the embolic protection device 28 are delivered through the patient'svasculature 12 to the area of treatment 14, to cross the stenosis in theblood vessel 12, so as to position the embolic protection device 28 forcapturing embolic material which may be released in the blood vessel 12during the interventional procedure. The delivery sheath 66 is adaptedto maintain a clinically acceptable profile and flexibility during thedelivery thereof.

After the embolic protection device 28 is in place, it is deployed atthe position distal to the stenosis in the blood vessel 12. The deliverysheath 66 is then withdrawn from the embolic protection device 28, andremoved through the patient's vasculature 12, while maintaining theclinically acceptable profile and flexibility during the removalthereof.

The embolic protection device 28 is recovered after the interventionalprocedure is performed, in the recovery version of the second embodimentof the invention as shown in FIGS. 21-26, by inserting the innercatheter 78 into the patient's vasculature 12, through the patient'sanatomy, to a position adjacent the embolic protection device 28. Duringthe inserting thereof, the inner catheter 78 is adapted to maintain aclinically acceptable profile and flexibility. The outer catheter 90 isthen inserted into the patient's vasculature 12 so as to extend aboutthe inner catheter 78, to a position extending about and capturing theembolic protection device 28 therein. The outer catheter 90 is thenremoved through the patient's vasculature 12, with the inner catheter 76and the embolic protection device 28 enclosed therein. A clinicallyacceptable profile and flexibility is maintained by the outer catheter90, and the inner catheter 78, during removal thereof from the patient'svasculature 12.

In accordance with the present invention, the particular embodiments setforth above of the system 10 and the system 64 are capable of beingpositioned in the blood vessel 12. However, other forms of the system 10and the system 64 may be utilized with the present invention withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, thesystem 10 and the system 64 may be comprised of other forms of material.Additionally, while the system 10 and the system 64 are shown as invarious shapes in the embodiments herein, they can be formed in any oneof a number of different shapes depending upon the construction desired.

Further, the various components may be joined by suitable adhesives suchas acrylonitrile based adhesives or cyanoacrylate based adhesives. Heatshrinking or heat bonding may be employed where appropriate.Plastic-to-plastic or plastic-to-metal joints may be effected by asuitable acrylonitrile or cyanoacrylate adhesive. Variations may be madein the composition of the materials to vary properties as needed. Basedon the present disclosure, other adhesives and applications may be madeknown to a person skilled in the art.

In view of the above, the system and method of the first embodiment ofthe present invention are adapted to substantially enhance theeffectiveness of performing interventional procedures, by enabling atleast one operator to deliver an embolic protection device to a positionfor deployment thereof distal to an interventional procedure site in apatient's vasculature, and to remove the delivery system from thepatient's vasculature. The article enables the operator to recover theembolic protection device and to remove the system and the embolicprotection device from the patient's vasculature. The system and methodof the second embodiment of the present invention substantially enhancethe effectiveness of performing interventional procedures, by enablingthe delivery of an embolic protection device to the position in thepatient's vasculature distal to the interventional procedure site, fordeployment thereof. The system also enables the delivery and removal ofthe delivery system from the patient's vasculature, while maintaining aclinically acceptable profile and flexibility. It also enables therecovery of the embolic protection device and the removal of the systemand the embolic protection device, while maintaining the clinicallyacceptable profile and flexibility during the recovery and removalthereof through the patient's vasculature.

While the present invention has been described in connection with thespecific embodiments identified herein, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that many alternatives, modifications and variationsare possible in light of the above description. Accordingly, theinvention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modificationsand variations as may fall within the spirit and scope of the inventiondisclosed herein.

1. A system for enabling the delivery of an embolic protection device toa position in a patient's vasculature distal to an interventionalprocedure site, for deployment of the embolic protection device, whereinthe delivery system is adapted to maintain a clinically acceptableprofile and flexibility during the delivery and removal thereof throughthe patient's vasculature, comprising: a guide wire, including a distalend, adapted to be positioned within the blood vessel and to extend to aposition distal to the interventional procedure site, and to include anembolic protection device mounted on the distal end thereof; and adelivery sheath, including a distal end, wherein the delivery sheath hasa lumen therein extending in the delivery sheath to the distal endthereof, and wherein the guide wire and the embolic protection deviceare adapted to extend in and through the lumen, the delivery sheath andthe guide wire are adapted to enable the embolic protection device to bedelivered and deployed distal to the interventional procedure site, andthe delivery sheath comprises dimensions and materials adapted toprovide a low profile, flexibility for enabling tracking thereof throughthe patient's vasculature, and rigidity for enabling pushing thereofthrough the patient's vasculature, so as to maintain a clinicallyacceptable profile and flexibility during the delivery and removalthereof through the patient's vasculature.
 2. The system of claim 1,wherein the delivery sheath includes a tip at the distal end thereof,adapted to be necked for providing a profile close to the guide wire, toinhibit kinking of the guide wire during the delivery and removal of thedelivery sheath.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the delivery sheathincludes a main shaft, adapted to provide the low profile, flexibility,and rigidity.
 4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a system forenabling the recovery of the embolic protection device from the positionin the patient's vasculature distal to the interventional proceduresite, for removal of the embolic protection device, wherein the recoverysystem is adapted to maintain a clinically acceptable profile andflexibility during the delivery and removal of the recovery systemthrough the patient's vasculature, and wherein the recovery systemincludes an inner catheter, including a distal end, wherein the innercatheter has a lumen therein extending in the inner catheter to thedistal end thereof, and wherein the inner catheter is adapted to extendover the guide wire, and the distal end of the inner catheter is adaptedto be positionable adjacent the embolic protection device, and whereinthe inner catheter comprises dimensions and materials adapted to enablea smooth transition for movement thereof along the guide wire, toinhibit kinking of the guide wire during the delivery and removal of theinner catheter, and to maintain a clinically acceptable profile andflexibility during the delivery and removal thereof through thepatient's vasculature.
 5. The system of claim 2, wherein the tip of thedelivery sheath is comprised of material adapted to be soft, to inhibittrauma to the patient's vasculature.
 6. The system of claim 5, whereinthe main shaft of the delivery sheath is comprised of PeBax, of about 72Durometer.
 7. The system of claim 4, wherein the recovery system furtherincludes an outer catheter, including a distal end, wherein the outercatheter has a lumen therein extending in the outer catheter to thedistal end thereof, the outer catheter is adapted to extend over theinner catheter, and the outer catheter comprises dimensions andmaterials adapted to enable a smooth transition for movement thereofalong the inner catheter, to enable the capturing of the embolicprotection device, and to inhibit trauma to the patient's vasculature,so as to maintain a clinically acceptable profile and flexibility duringthe delivery and removal thereof through the patient's vasculature. 8.The system of claim 5, wherein the tip of the delivery sheath iscomprised of a compound including PeBax, of about 40 Durometer, andbismuth.
 9. The system of claim 7, wherein the outer catheter includes amain shaft, adapted to enable the smooth transition, and to inhibittrauma.
 10. The system of claim 7, wherein the outer catheter includes adistal end, and a tip at the distal end, adapted to enable the smoothtransition, and to capture the embolic protection device, and comprisedof material adapted to be soft, to inhibit trauma to the patient'svasculature.
 11. The system of claim 9, wherein the main shaft of theouter catheter is comprised of a high density PE.
 12. The system ofclaim 10, wherein the tip of the outer catheter is comprised of acompound including PeBax, of about 40 Durometer, and bismuth.
 13. Amethod of enabling at least one operator to control the delivery of anembolic protection device to a position in a patient's vasculaturedistal to an interventional procedure site for deployment of the embolicprotection device, to enable the operator to control the removal of thedelivery system from the patient's vasculature for the exchange of thedelivery system, and to enable control of the position of a deployedembolic protection device within the patient's vasculature during anexchange of interventional devices, in a system which comprises a guidewire, including a distal end, adapted to be positioned within the bloodvessel and to extend to a position distal to the interventionalprocedure site, and to include an embolic protection device mounted onthe distal end thereof, and a catheter, including a distal end, whereinthe catheter has a lumen therein extending in the catheter to the distalend thereof, and wherein the guide wire and the embolic protectiondevice are adapted to extend in and through the lumen, the catheter andthe guide wire are adapted to enable the embolic protection device to bedelivered and deployed distal to the interventional procedure site, andthe catheter includes a manipulation-enabling element for enabling atleast one operator to manipulate the guide wire and the catheterindependently so as to enable removal of the catheter from the patient'svasculature, wherein the method comprises: the at least one operator:inserting the guide wire with the embolic protection device mounted onthe distal end thereof and the catheter into the blood vessel to theposition distal to the interventional procedure site; deploying theembolic protection device at the position thereof distal to theinterventional procedure site; detaching the catheter from the embolicprotection device; and manipulating the guide wire and the catheterindependently so as to control the removal of the catheter from thepatient's vasculature.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising asystem for enabling the at least one operator to control the recovery ofthe embolic protection device, from the delivered and deployed positionthereof, for the exchange of the recovery system, further comprisinginserting the catheter through the patient's vasculature to a positionadjacent the embolic protection device, capturing the embolic protectiondevice, and manipulating the guide wire and the catheter independentlyso as to control the removal of the catheter and the embolic protectiondevice from the patient's vasculature.
 15. A method of enabling thedelivery of an embolic protection device to a position in a patient'svasculature distal to an interventional procedure site, for deploymentof the embolic protection device, in a delivery system which is adaptedto maintain a clinically acceptable profile and flexibility during thedelivery and removal thereof through the patient's vasculature, whereinthe delivery system comprises a guide wire, including a distal end,adapted to be positioned within the blood vessel and to extend to aposition distal to the interventional procedure site, and to include anembolic protection device mounted on the distal end thereof, and adelivery sheath, including a distal end, wherein the delivery sheath hasa lumen therein extending in the delivery sheath to the distal endthereof, and wherein the guide wire and the embolic protection deviceare adapted to extend in and through the lumen, the delivery sheath andthe guide wire are adapted to enable the embolic protection device to bedelivered and deployed distal to the interventional procedure site, andthe delivery sheath comprises dimensions and materials adapted toprovide a low profile, flexibility for enabling tracking thereof throughthe patient's vasculature, and rigidity for enabling pushing thereofthrough the patient's vasculature, so as to maintain a clinicallyacceptable profile and flexibility during the delivery and removalthereof through the patient's vasculature, and wherein the methodcomprises: extending the guide wire with the embolic protection devicemounted on the distal end thereof through the lumen in the deliverysheath such that the embolic protection device is positioned at the tipof the delivery sheath; delivering the delivery sheath through thepatient's vasculature, so as to enable delivery of the embolicprotection device for deployment thereof at the position distal to theinterventional procedure site, including enabling the delivery sheath tomaintain a clinically acceptable profile and flexibility during deliverythereof; and removing the delivery sheath through the patient'svasculature, including enabling the delivery sheath to maintain aclinically acceptable profile and flexibility during removal thereof.16. The method of claim 15, further comprising a system for enabling therecovery of the embolic protection device from the position in thepatient's vasculature distal to the interventional procedure site, forremoval of the embolic protection device, wherein the recovery system isadapted to maintain a clinically acceptable profile and flexibilityduring the delivery and removal of the recovery system through thepatient's vasculature, and wherein the recovery system includes an innercatheter, including a distal end, wherein the inner catheter has a lumentherein extending in the inner catheter to the distal end thereof, theinner catheter is adapted to extend over the guide wire, and the distalend of the inner catheter is adapted to be positionable adjacent theembolic protection device, and the inner catheter comprises dimensionsadapted to enable a smooth transition for movement thereof along theguide wire, to inhibit kinking of the guide wire during the delivery andremoval of the inner catheter, and to maintain a clinically acceptableprofile and flexibility during the delivery and removal thereof throughthe patient's vasculature, further comprising delivering the innercatheter through the patient's vasculature to the position adjacent theproximal end of the embolic protection device, including maintaining aclinically acceptable profile and flexibility during delivery thereof.17. The method of claim 16, wherein the recovery system further includesan outer catheter, including a distal end, wherein the outer catheterhas a lumen therein extending in the outer catheter to the distal endthereof, the outer catheter is adapted to extend over the innercatheter, and the outer catheter comprises dimensions and materialsadapted to enable a smooth transition for movement thereof along theinner catheter, to enable the capturing of the embolic protectiondevice, and to inhibit trauma to the patient's vasculature, so as tomaintain a clinically acceptable profile and flexibility during thedelivery and removal thereof through the patient's vasculature, furthercomprising delivering the outer catheter through the patient'svasculature so as to extend along the inner catheter and enclose theembolic protection device therein, including maintaining a clinicallyacceptable profile and flexibility during delivery thereof, and removingthe outer catheter through the patient's vasculature with the innercatheter and the embolic protection device enclosed therein, includingmaintaining a clinically acceptable profile and flexibility duringremoval thereof.